Late last week, Kevin Gausman stood in front of his locker in the Toronto Blue Jays’ clubhouse and the team’s ace laughed as he considered just how much of a routine-oriented pitcher he is.
“I mean to be honest, nowadays, especially this time of year, you kind of have to throw your routine out the window a little bit,” Gausman said, with a smile. “I just pitch when they tell me to pitch.”
But as the week neared its end, the questions were aplenty about just when Gausman would pitch next, even with Toronto’s starting rotation schedule having him teed up for Sunday, the regular-season finale. The Blue Jays had clinched the playoffs, but since they were tied with the New York Yankees atop the AL East, would they start with a Wild Card Series or earn a bye through to the ALDS as the top seed? The magic number was two with as many games to go, so would Toronto deploy their top hurler to help perhaps secure the AL East and bypass a Wild Card Series, or save Gausman for the first post-season game, hopeful they’d still win in the finale to get that bye, but still have their ace rested in case their playoffs opened earlier in the wild card?
These were among the many scenarios Gausman found himself contemplating in the Rogers Centre clubhouse as recently as a few days ago.
“I’m trying not to think too much about it, because who knows?” Gausman said. “I’ve definitely put it in my mind, some certain things, but I’m not going to put it out there. I am prepared for whatever that is. Whether that’s Sunday in an extended capacity or shortened capacity, I’m ready for whatever. I’m also ready for whatever could be next after that.”
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As it turns out, that was a very good approach. On Saturday night, after the Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays and the Yankees won again to bring Toronto’s magic number to a magical singular 1, Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters that Gausman will start on Sunday (Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, 3 p.m. ET).
If the Blue Jays win, they clinch the American League East title for the first time in a decade, and they hold the No. 1 seed in the league. If Toronto loses, the Yankees also have to lose (Toronto holds the tiebreaker) for the Blue Jays to bypass the Wild Card Series.
Reliever Jeff Hoffman is quick to point to the depth available to the Blue Jays on the mound, but he also points to one other fact.
“Listen, if we have to win, that’s the guy,” Hoffman said of Gausman, who’s also pictured on the shirt the Blue Jays closer wears every day. (It’s the giveaway shirt fans received ahead of a game back in June, and Hoffman wears it because: “he’s one of my favourite players.” He points out it’s laundered daily, too.)
“Gausy’s had an unbelievable year and he’s been one of the best pitchers this decade, all the way through. He makes his starts, you see him still flashing ninety-sevens and ninety-eights when he needs them. It’s awesome to have a guy like that, where he’s been so good for so long that the confidence is just kind of built in,” Hoffman said. “He doesn’t have to earn that with any of us. We just kind of expect it. And I know that’s a heavy burden for him…it’s a lot of pressure, you know, when everybody’s kind of depending on you. But at the same time, we’re also all behind him and willing to help, whatever we’ve got to do to make sure that he has the most success possible.”
The Blue Jays have to view game No. 162 as a must-win, too. Counting on the Yankees to lose is more than risky. But if you ask anyone in the Blue Jays clubhouse, having Gausman on the mound eliminates any risk.
“That’s the guy,” Hoffman said. “Then we get the bye too. It’s not like we’re going to lose him for the next game or he’s not going to be able to start the next day. We don’t need that. So by all means, get him the ball and let him go.”
Gausman says he’s ready to go not only on Sunday, but whenever he’s needed as the playoffs begin.
“You get into the post-season, you’re not pitching every four days — you’re pitching every three, probably. And the days you’re not starting, you’re probably in the bullpen…I think it’s great for the sport. I’ve done it in the playoffs, he’s done it in the playoffs,” Gausman said, pointing to fellow starter Max Scherzer, who sits across from him in the clubhouse. “It’s really fun to watch when you see a starter go to the bullpen. It’s really exciting for fans, but it is different as a pitcher. You’ve just kind of got to know that that’s what it is. It’s all hands on deck.”
On Sunday, it’ll be Gausman with the ball in his hand to start the game. The right-hander who’s registered 184 strikeouts this season is not the type to visualize what he wants to accomplish ahead of his outings. “I think that’s an unrealistic expectation to think that your mind is going to be able to determine what is going to happen,” Gausman said. “I definitely mentally prepare, but I’m also not trying to put any more pressure on myself, you know? I’m just going to go out and pitch my game.”
There are some certainties before he does that: Hoffman will be wearing his Gausman shirt for the season finale, and for the entire playoffs. “Of course,” the closer said. And secondly, the Blue Jays’ starter for the last game before the post-season opens is ready to go.
“One hundred per cent,” Gausman said. “This is what we live for.”
